Tips for Eating Well During the Holidays

With the holiday season upon us it is easy for our own health to take a back seat. Here are some ideas to help keep your waistline in check this winter.

1. Continue to use Fresh Veggies as the Base: Between shopping & holiday parties it can become commonplace to start surviving on Auntie Anne’s pretzels or holiday cookies this time of year. Even though the local CSA seasonis not as large in the winter there are still many fresh veggies at the local markets to choose from. Use these as the base for all your meals to ensure you are getting adequate vitamins & minerals to stay healthy all winter long!

2. Planning & Preparation: If you are going to a holiday party or have a full day of shopping then you can acknowledge that you may not be surrounded with the most ideal food choices, Eat a healthy meal before leaving your house and/or pack a fresh salad with a good source of protein to eat beforehand. This way you are not famished and tempted to gorge on desserts, but rather can have a small sampling if you so choose. For a long day of shopping bring along snacks like some HNG jerky & nuts or coconut flakes (unsweetened, of course!).

3. Sit Down to Eat. (In front of the television doesn’t count.) Value the time you spend nourishing your body. Use it as time to catch up with your friends/family, read a book or the newspaper you’ve been meaning to pick up or simply grab a seat by a window & take in the beauty of Asheville this time of year.

4. Set the Fork Down: So often we eat on the run &/or spend the time cramming food into our mouth. Setting the fork down between bites not only helps prevent over-eating by realizing when we are full sooner and it also helps improve our body’s absorption of the food.

5. Stay Hydrated: With cooler temperatures it’s easy to forget that we still need to stay hydrated. This doesn’t mean glasses of eggnog & wine, but simply water! Carry a water bottle around with you & ensure you are refilling it several times per day. A large glass of water first thing in the morning (before that first coffee) is a great way to start the day. Non-caffeinated herbal teas can be great to help warm your body.

These five tips will help you celebrate both the holiday season and your healthy body at the same time. Planning ahead with allow you to thrive this winter!!

2 thoughts on “Tips for Eating Well During the Holidays”

Thanks for posting this! If people are interested in getting fresh greens throughout the winter, my friend Mike Adams through Wintergreen Farms will be offering fresh kale, arugula, cilantro, parsley, and turnips all winter long (he grows with a cool hoop-frame system to keep the plants warm even in january). Prices are very reasonable…$4 for a pound of kale, which is enough for a whole week. You can look it up on facebook for more details (through Mike Adams or Wintergreen) or talk to me and I can bring some to CFA. Buying local fresh vegetables definitely makes it easier to eat yer greens in wintertime!